I Have a Passion for Pizza
Monday, May 17, 2010 at 7:00AM Bossyboots and I love pizza... We REALLY love pizza. Bossyboots especially is enamored with anything of a crust-like nature slathered in pizza sauce and fromage. Often, when we plan an evening out, pizza is somehow involved.
Handily, we live in a neighborhood lousy with pizza shops... The GOOD kind of pizza shops. Like the mom and pop, wood-burning oven, everyone gets their own pie kind of pizza shop. Really, there are pizza options on most any block around here.
Although Chicago is known for their stuffed variety of pizza... I am not a fan (sacrilege!) My favorite kind of pizza is neapolitan style, which generally means a thin, brick oven baked crust. I love them!
Over the past month or so, Bossyboots and I have been trying out different pizza shops in the 'hood. We are always up for new restaurants, and it's been a bit of a fun adventure visiting different pizza shops. Take a look!
SPACCA NAPOLI
1769 W. Sunnyside, Chicago, IL 60640
We visited Spacca Napoli with Colo, Wrigley-T, Senor Diamondback, and The Otter. Ummm it was delicious. Our original idea was to each order a different pizza, and then swap pieces with each other; however, Colo made it quite clear that she was ordering her own pizza and hands off thankyouverymuch. :) After her pizza arrived, I don't blame her; it looked tasty!
Although the Diavola pizza was super delicious (mozzarella, basil, salami), we really loved the Special we ordered - the Tre Pomodoro (in the upper left hand side of the photo below). Our mushroom and sausage pizza was yum, too. I personally really loved Wrigley-T's choice, which was an arugula, basil, and mozzarella pie.
Here's a better shot of the arugula pizza - see, The Otter is so jealous that he can't have any yet. He had to make do with his milk. Someday, little pizza dreamer!
The pizza was to die for at Spacca Napoli. The place is so popular that we were given the stinkeye when we finished our food - they had a line waiting out the door!
PIZZA D.O.C
2251 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60625
About a week later, we were off to Pizza D.O.C. Pizza D.O.C. pulled the slightest of edges over Spacca, only because of THIS:
I give bonus points to any restaurant that serves bread on the table! The day I learned to dip my bread in peppered/cheesed olive oil changed my life, right?
Again, the pizzas we ordered were SO good. No drooling.
We really loved Pizza D.O.C., too. It was just a little loud, but the food was excellent, our food server was awesome, and their wine list was extensive, with options in a range of price points.
PIZZA ART CAFE
4658 North Rockwell Street, Chicago, IL 60625
I have to say that HANDS DOWN, Pizza Art had the best ambiance. The restaurant is small, quiet, and intimate - so easy to hang out and talk. Our appetizer salads were delicious, and the pizzas were great.
I really wish I could meld elements of all three places we visited: The pizzas of Spacca, plus the bread and wines of Pizza D.O.C., and then the ambiance of Pizza Art. We will have to keep on our pizza quest!
Do you have a passion for pizza? What's your favorite place to grab a pie, a slice, thin, stuffed, casual, fancy? We all want to know!
Food, Restaurants
Reader Comments (11)
It's nine o'clock in the morning and now.......I Want Pizza!!!!!!!! Great Post......Great Pictures!! How can I possibly be satisfied with my "normal" digital camera after looking at your pictures!!!!!?????
I know you don't need me to tell you this, but, You're friends are totally awesome!!! I'm so happy that you have a circle of friends that have become your second family!!
I can't wait to come visit!!
OMG this post is making me soooo hungry. I have been on a pretty strict diet since Thursday and this is killing me!
Awesome post!!
I am an NY girl in a Chicago world. My fav is Pizza Apart on Montrose just one block east on western. It is the closest to NY pizza I have found.
Pizza D.O.C. looks the best to me! that pizza looks reary reary good!
I'm now ordering pizza for dinner because of this post :) Love all these places. If you haven't already, try Ciao Napoli Pizzeria in Logan Square. Their bruschetta is also delicious!
Ohhh my goodness, this post successfully made me ravenous! Drooool. I heart pizza. And I'm with you; thin/crunchy crust (preferably coal oven) pizza is the BEST!
I read the title of your post and before reading, my first thought was, 'Oh, I should tell her to go to Spacca Napoli." hahaha Great Minds. Here's the "small world" factoid about that place: It is owned by the uncle of a fellow I went to school with in Texas. Crazy! There is so much Lone Star State-ness hidden around Chicago. It's nuts. I did a play last year with a cast of 8 and THREE of us were from Texas. First Chicago, then the world!
Ha, Bikini - yessssssss our plans for Texan domination are working! And pizza's for lunch in my work caf today....
Spacca Napoli is really great, tried it a couple weeks ago for the first time. Try Great Lake too if you haven't yet (in Edgewater), it's pretty awesome. Mmmmm Pizaa.
Oooh, I've been wanting to try Spacca Napoli for FOREVER!!!
Pizza Art is ok...I agree with you on the cuteness factor of it and the great location, but the pizza isn't amazing.
I have no tried Pizza DOC. I couldn't tell from the outside if it was actually good or more of a chain. NO ONE will deliver pizza to our condo, it's so annoying!